Loopy Laces

Well, today I finished my first "Loopy Laces" sock :) This was a really fun pattern and I happen to know the artist. She is an up and coming sock guru named Jenn Nevitt and she is a real kick in the pants too. She appreciates my sick sense of humor which helps her rating with me!!

The weather here in Texas is crazy today and we have had to stay in this evening. My knitting class was canceled as well as our
Sit-N-Stitch night :( I'm sure there are dissapointed women all over the Forth Worth area this evening. Emilee is hoping for a snow day tomorrow, but I 'm pretty sure she will end up going to school. Oh well, spring break is right around the corner...yeah!!! I love it when she doesn't have school...no seriously, I do!! When my kids were young and pains in the butts, it was the reverse for me...but Emilee and I have lots of fun together and enjoy just hanging at home.

I noticed my peach tree has beautiful peach blossoms on it today and I hope the weather doesn't chase them away. The birds have emptied out all my bird feeders today. Ho-hum....that's about it for this evening. Maybe I will hear from one of my friends out there????

Stay safe...Heidi

Friends till the End

Evening y'all!!!

I just had a very pleasant surprise this evening :) A very dear friend, Janet, and I just hooked up via Instant Message. We had been out of touch for quite some time and I was missing her. Friends touch my heart in the very best way...they make me feel loved and appreciated! Most of you know that I have been fighting depression since my transplant to Texas. I left such an AmAzInG support system in California that it has just left me in such a funk. You know ...you just don't know how important people are in your lives until they are gone...at least on a day to day basis.
Janet is such a kindred spirit and even though we haven't been able to spend much "quality" time together...I love her very much. She has been a very dear friend to my husband for years and we clicked instantly when we met. I feel like a bad friend though as I let way too much time go buy without contacting her. I'm sorry for that Janet!! Really, I am.
I also am back in touch with an old high school buddy, Tina!!! GOSH, we had some really awesome times....I sure wish I could remember them better...but she is one of those friends that will always be part of my heart and soul...she get's me. Back in the day, her family accepted me into their's and I hung out at their home very often ...most of the time to escape my own home with a very negative...un-loving...so-called mother....who I am no longer in touch with. I finally realized that I would never please her, so I stopped trying...and you know what? I like myself so much more...and my self-esteem has improved ten times over and over again. I have missed you Tina....and I love you!!

Wow...Friends are the best....

Multi-Tasking...GOOD OR DANGEROUS??

Howdy !!

Well, I have always been very proud of my ability to multi-task with great success. Today was the day I have decided to seriously question my abilities. I'm sure many of you are like me...trying to keep at least 17 balls up in the air at the same time without making a mess. My day started out with a bang!!! I was keeping the washer and dryer going, making lunches, collecting trash for the burn barrel and trying to clean the bathrooms. Things were moving along at a rapid clip until the un-thinkable happened... I mistook a Windex Multi-Purpose Wipe for a Feminine wipe and OMG!!!! Let's just say it was quite a shocker.....almost as good as the time I sprayed my hair with bug spray instead of hair spray. I will agree with the Windex slogan...."No Streaks".... Please learn from this error girls..it hasn't been fun...

I have been knitting pretty darn regular this past week, which really pleases me. I am working on a pair of "Loopy Laces" socks which are really fun to knit AND I have been working on my Fair Isle Vest as well. The vest has been quite a challenge for me but, I am very pleased with the results thus far. My next class is being held next Thursday and I am hoping to be atleast through 20 rows of the fair isle portion... My daughter Emilee and I have decided to knit up a bunch of squares and then I will crochet them together. We are hoping that it will be a fun gift for Jessica & Josh to help them celebrate their marriage. If you would like to help....we are using size 15 needles...casting on 20 stitches and knitting until a square is complete. NOTE TO TAMI: A Rectangle is much LONGER than a Square....please STOP once it's a square...LOL (You know I'm teasing you) The colors we are thinking are: Olive (green), Orange, Brown, Teal (Turquoise).....

I have been planting in my garden as well...can you believe it? So far we have: Head lettuce, Romaine & Spinach....Strawberries, Yellow & White Onions, Cherry Tomatoes, Rosemary & Lavender.....Getting back in my garden has really helped my mind set! I feel like I am accomplishing something that is going to be appreciated by my entire family.

Lucy needs a sister!! It is almost that time...YES, time to begin the search for Lucy's baby sister. I am keeping an open mind as to the breed...we plan to start visiting the Burleson Animal Shelter very soon and begin our search for "Rickie" That's right Lucy & Rickie.....

Hope you all are doing well....Hugs, Heidi

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day all!!! I hope you all had a wonderful day. It's awful quiet here at the Koehler home. Emilee has gone to bed with her new stuffed dog. She was very pleased with all the goodies the "Valentines Fairy" brought her this year. Ken and I are sharing a nice big box of Mrs. Fields Chocolates. I think that Mrs. Field's needs to stick to cookies....I would give her chocolates a 6 out of 10 :/ Today's picture is of my beautiful roses that Ken gave me today before he left for work and my extra mushy card.

I am waiting by the phone as my daughter Jessica is getting married this evening in Nevada to Joshua Mason....sniff sniff... Since I can't be there with her, I will be listening in on my cell phone. Jessica & Josh decided to go get a marriage license today and Josh's Uncle is going to marry them at his Grandma's house in just a little bit. Not as fancy as my wedding to Ken...."The Just Say I do ...Wedding Drive-Thru" but....every bride has her day :) Hopefully I will have some pictures to share very soon.

XOXOXO Heidi

Here Comes The Sun

It is such a beautiful day here in Africa!!! We have both doors open and I am enjoying the breeze.

The pictures are of Ken and Lucy "relaxing". Lucy will only lay in this position with Dad, it's very strange to see her just limp like that. The other is of my newest beanie....it has a hole in the top for my pony tale and I wore it last night to Emilee's riding lesson. It got one "oohhh ahhhh" from a lady sitting next to me :)

Ken is getting ready for work, Emilee is floating in the hot tub and I'm trying to figure out what all I need to do today. I hope you all enjoy your day and please "LET ME HEAR FROM Y'ALL"

Hugs, Heidi

Calling All Knitters

What is everyone knitting? This entry is going out to all my knitting friends. Ok, this is how this is supposed to work!!! After you read this entry, you click on "comments" and leave me a message...ok??? It's not that difficult, I promise.

I have just finished another pony cap for myself in Greens and Browns...I will take a picture and post it later this evening. I am working on; A sweater vest for my husband, a shrug for Emilee (half way there), a cute dress for Jessica (is gonna take 4-ever) and I am registered for a class to knit myself a fair isle vest (yeah baby!!)

With the weather changing from cold and dreary to warmer.... I seem to be catching the knitting bug...which is good...because I truly love my knitting. I could use some inspiration from all of you girls. I can't wait to hear about all your projects!!

Love to you all, Heidi

Thanksgiving in February

I have been doing some reflecting today and wanted to share some of my thoughts. When trying to pull myself out of a funk, I try to think of all the positive things in my life. What are those things that get me through each day? Sometimes it's as simple as watching the Cardinals at my bird feeders or hearing Emilee laugh or knowing that Jessica is once again my very dear friend as well as my eldest child.

One year ago:

* I hadn't seen my children in 5 years and the pain was unbearable
* I couldn't even look at their pictures because it was just too hard
* My children had no idea why I was absent from their lives
* I had very little hope that I would see my children before they became adults.

Today:

* My youngest, Emilee (12), lives with me and I get to watch her grow and help her become
whatever it is she wants to be. I know that she loves me....She knows the truth...I see
myself in her every single day...she is a doodle like her Mom :)
* My eldest, Jessica (20), has come to visit me and we are close once more. Even though
we were separated during her "difficult" years, she came through them just fine and
remembered everything I tried to teach her before our separation. She is one of the
bravest people I know and I can never express enough how proud I am of who she
has become in spite of all she has survived. Wow!!
* My son, Kyle (15) knows I love him wether he wants to admit it or not. He is now going
through those difficult years and lives with his Father. He is a work in progress and I have
faith that he will come back to me one day just as the girls have. He is brilliant and has
a heart of gold....one day he will break away from all that is coloring his thoughts and need
his Mom....I can wait
* I have pictures of my children decorating my home and they once again bring me great
joy. They are the best part of me and I am so proud....to be Mom once again

Wow how things have changed in one short year.....